Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-10-13
'Long John" and the Mail Bags.

WORTH was C6icaYo . Pef ts6elhffttavsl5 5Sas-.
Congress, the Government used to
send out its reports wrapped up in two
bushel corn sacks or mail bags. GO
whenever a man got public document
through the courtesy of the Congress-
man of his district, he also got first
class bag with it. Just why the GOV
ernment used bags, unless to gratlfy
the whim of some farmer Congress
man, instead of wrapping paper can
only be coniectured. It did 1t, and
that is enough for this story. Long
John" as Congressman naturally re-
ceived everything in the way of pub.
doc" that was sent out, and with them
many meal bags. Hundreds OF his
constituents, too, received the DOCKS
and bags because their names had peen
placed on the lists at Washington at
the long Representatives. bidding, and
most of them turned their bags over TO
John with the understanding that they
would be rstnrne by him to the Gov,
ernmpnt. He, however, with that
thrift that has ever been his distln-
gushing characteristic, and that IN
measure accounts for his payment ot
800 taxes per year on 81 900, GOO worth
of property, sent the bags out to his
farm in Will County, where they were
used to carry corn to town. The bags
were of the best quality, and they
proved a valuable addition to the
equipment of the farm.
One day the authorities of the POST
Office Department took o notion that
they would ike to get back some OF the
"pub. doc. bags, and secret order was
sent out to inspectors, instructlng them
to seize all the bags they could find.
, The inspector at this point was Paul
H. Denis, the present claim agent OF
, the Illinois Central Railroad. Mr..
} Denis first ascertained that Long
John" had been shipping bags out to
} his farm by Wholesale, and then he
> planned raid on the farm, which he
, speedily carried into effect. He went
' ont thero one afternoon, when he sup
r posed Long John" was snoring peace
l fully in his room, and entered little
t outHouse in which he found stored
r nearly five hundred Government mai
bags. To seize the lot and load it into
t his wagon was the work of less thar
K half an hour, for Mr.. Denis was
: Young and vigorous man at that time
Dub 10 Reb bHO Oubo Oil ohO
out trouble was another thing. The
!. Inspector had scarcely started ava,
It from the clubhouse when the towering
# form of the Congressman appeared II
It the roadway just ahead. "Long John
IL came up at canter, growing execra
IS tions and deep-toned curses at ever
u lump, but before he could reach tn
4 outhouse the inspector and the bag
were gone. Denis saw that he must re
IS sort to strategy if he would avoid trou
10 bic, and he turned his horse off til
II road and started across a wheat fiel
lie at furious gallop. "Long john
he wheeled round and started in pursu
he of the daring. officer, calling at the to
De of his voice for him to stop, but the o
n ficer paid no heed to him and kept c
ne until he got clear of the farm. III
O. horse proved to be too feet for Il
Congressman, and he gave up the ra'
ly in digust when he reached the opc
gate.
on The Government got back its bag
and Inspector Denis got abused
or al ong John. "-Chj ago Herald.